multiversallogs | workout in the mornin' workout in the evenin'

Aimery headed into the living room all set to tidy up, with one dustrag draped over his shoulder and another in his hand, but he stopped just inside the doorway when he saw Adrian. It wasn't lust or desire (maybe a little) that stopped him in his tracks and made him stare, it was envy. Veidt was like a living sculpture. No matter how hard he tried, how good his diet was, Aimery doubted he could ever have that kind of muscle tone, and if someone walked in on him wearing scandalously small shorts and naught else, it would be his scars they stared at not the body they were on, if they stared at all.

But damn it was nice to see. After a moment or two he cleared his throat, making sure to set his gaze on Veidt's head so as not to appear to be ogling. "Apologies, Mr. Veidt, I didn't realize... the living room was occupied."

Turning around and walking away immediately was probably more awkward than that, right?

Look who else is working out in the same space. The other owner of the house is far more modest and Lex wears loose fitting sweatpants and plain white t-shirt. He stands up from his crunching position on the ground and regards Aimery with immediate skepticism. The butler couldn't be any more obvious.

"I'm sure it's not a problem with Mr. Veidt, but I think you're a little overdressed for the occasion."

If Adrian minded being stared at, he probably wouldn't be exercising in a public room of the house, almost naked.

"It's all right, Aimery, I apologize for being in your way. It seems Mr. Luthor and I overlooked the necessity for some kind of gymnasium space when we planned out our renovations." He straightens out of the stretch he was doing and picks up a bottle of water. "Although since you're here, there are a couple of things I'd like to talk to you about."

He hadn't noticed Lex at all until the other man stood up. Damnit. Aimery responded to his teasing with a flat look and a head tilt of greeting, the slight lowering of his brow combined with a pursing and curling of his lips meant to convey mixed amusement and apology without having to explicitly say it. He wasn't overdressed for cleaning, Lex.

"You're not in my way at all, Mr. Veidt, I thought quite the opposite," he said, holding up a hand in supplication and looking back at Adrian('s face). "I had intended to dust, would you mind if I see to that while we talk?"

Aimery wasn't sure he could have a serious discussion without his eyes wandering at some point, especially with Lex there, watching, ready to snicker mentally about it.

Lex responds to Aimery with a flat look of his own. Don't give him sass while you're supposed to be on the job.

He glances over to Adrian as he grabs a towel and drapes it across the back of his neck. "Is this something you want to talk about with the butler alone?"

Adrian takes a long drink from his water bottle and then raises an eyebrow at both of them, looking amused and curious. Trading the bottle for a towel, he wipes off his face and then tilts his head questioningly toward Lex. Is there a problem, gentlemen?

"If it was a secret I wouldn't have raised the topic in front of you," he answers mildly. "Although I'm part of this conversation will have to take place elsewhere, Aimery. I have an extra chore I'd like to add to your duties, if it's acceptable, but there's a rather important conversation we need to have first. I can promise it won't take up too much of your time. "

Again a glance in Lex's direction, this time a look of more significance. He can probably guess at what Adrian's about, in regard to both the topics at hand. "I did also want to speak to you about something I've noticed on the security feeds, however. I'm not concerned, necessarily, but I would like to know if there's anything you've been hiding from either of us."

Aimery's expression went cold for a split second before he gave the tiniest of nods to Lex in unspoken as ; referring to him as the butler, to his face, was sufficient to neutralize his slight amusement at the situation. Rude. Even if he was right. There was no problem.

Or maybe there was. He'd nodded in eager agreement at the potential for a new task, especially as it sounded important... but then came the rest and Aimery was unsure how to answer. He resisted the urge to look at Lex for guidance- that would only imply guilt and Lex's involvement. There were only two things Adrian might be referring to that would be on the security cameras: his ability or his off-duty activities with Lex. It had to be the first since it'd be ridiculous to bring the latter up over a month later, when it seemed unlikely to happen again and wasn't Adrian's business anyway.

"There's nothing that I have deliberately hidden from either of you," he answered after a quiet, thoughtful moment, having made no move to start dusting. His statement was mostly true. "But I have been discreet, as you instructed me to when we first met."

He paused, wet his lips with his tongue, then hesitantly asked, "I assume you are referring to my... method of housekeeping?"

Lex returns Adrian's look with a brief and casual shrug. No, there's no problem. He understands what Adrian is referring to and will mostly step back to allow the other man to talk since it's obviously been on his mind to bring it up now.

At Aimery's question Lex nods, but ultimately gives the floor to Adrian as intended. He takes one end of the towel to wipe the sweat off his face as he allows for the conversation to continue around him.

Satisfied that he hasn't inadvertently stepped into the middle of an argument, Adrian returns Lex's look with a nod and turns his attention back to Aimery. He's not sure he likes the way the question is being answered, but he's willing for now to accept the possibility that Aimery is simply (understandably) concerned about keeping himself away from potential trouble.

"I disagree, I believe you have deliberately hidden something from us, but I can understand the need for a man to have secrets. Still, this does seem to be the kind of secret that could have potential repercussions on our lives here. Yes, I am referring to your method of housekeeping. And I'd like an explanation."

At that point Adrian looks over at Lex again. The man seems somehow too calm to be just now discovering that his employee has been keeping secrets. "Lex? Were you aware of this?"

Even though Adrian had turned his attention to Lex, Aimery spoke up anyway, not wanting his slight sheepishness about the subject to come off as guilt or avoidance. "Apologies, Mr. Veidt, I didn't intend to deceive. I was uncertain if you knew and thought, if you did, that I was meant to be discreet, so I erred on the side of caution and was."

Aimery gave a quick glance at Lex, aware that he'd essentially implied that Lex had known, and hoped keen cooperation would soothe it, "I'd be happy to explain or demonstrate."

"I did know," Lex replies calmly. He turns his gaze to Aimery first. There is a certain solidarity there and he would do what he could to smooth anything over on the condition that Aimery stops speaking for him.

Now his full attention is on Adrian. "In my world people with abilities such as Aimery's often meet a swift and unpleasant end. I thought it was best left up to Aimery to decide when and how to divulge this information about himself."

Adrian addresses Lex's remark first, as a way of expressing both that he understands why Lex didn't share the information with him, and that Aimery has nothing to fear from him in revealing his secret. "I have a friend back home who has the ability to manipulate matter at the atomic level. I understand the concern that would cause you to remain silent, and it's certainly admirable that you'd want to give Aimery the opportunity to decide who to reveal his own secrets too. But I assure you both, it's safe with me."

His attention back on Aimery now, he adds, "Thank you, Aimery, I would appreciate both an explanation and a demonstration."

Aimery was happy to abide by that condition, giving a faint, thankful smile at Lex as the other man spoke and shutting up until he was directly addressed. It reassured him to know that Adrian was not completely unfamiliar with his kind of 'gift'. There was less explaining needed about the mechanics and hopefully he wouldn't have to risk insulting Veidt's intelligence by detailing the fairly obvious potential uses for it.

"Well, actually, manipulating matter at the atomic level might not be a bad descriptor of my ability. I can choose what touches what, down to the tiniest of pieces, regardless of the material." As he spoke, he held up the dustrag with one hand and pushed the other right through it past his wrist, then withdrew so that they could see he left no tears. "Most of it is... instinctual- I needn't think specifically about bringing my suit with me as I walk through a wall, for example— but the range is limited and fine work like rejoining threads requires some concentration. And, it's not half as useful as that, but I can also walk on air and water. Probably anything else, too, if there's a body of it."

He took a step forward and up, as if there was an invisible step in front of him, then gave a half-sheepish shrug; it felt a little ridiculous to show off like that. It was far easier when drunk and using it as a come-on.

While he knew that what Aimery could do extended far beyond what he could touch with his hand and had seen it used in a certain other capacity, having him show off put it into better focus for Lex. He watches Aimery with every attention, almost as if this were an entirely new revelation.

"So how quickly do you take care of your daily chores, Aimery?"

Adrian watches very closely as well, nodding his understanding at Aimery's explanation, raising an intrigued eyebrow when the man steps up into the air with ease.

"Have you done much research into your abilities? Where they come from, how far you can push them?" He's careful to disguise his intense curiosity with a mild, conversational tone. It wouldn't do to make Aimery think Adrian wants to turn him into a lab rat, or even that he's expected to share information he isn't comfortable with.

"I mostly use it for cleaning and cooking preparation, so those go by far faster than they would without it," Aimery shrugged as he answered Lex, not intending to be coy but having never actually timed himself, he couldn't say. Plus he didn't want to make it seem like he didn't have much of a job to do... even though he frequently ran out of things to do and was often bored.

"As for where it came from, that is... somewhat complicated," he said as he looked back to Adrian, dropping to the ground and going quiet for a moment while he decided on how much he wanted to reveal. "The short of it is that I was briefly possessed by a... demon, I'm not certain what to call it, that changed me physically to suit it's form. When it left me, the changes it made were reverted, but a few weeks later I was exposed to radiation and this —one of the abilities it granted— returned."

Again he paused, wetting his lips nervously with his tongue, "I haven't pressed myself, but I believe I could do far more with it than tidying and removing stains. But the person who it possessed before me used it for violent, nefarious means, to put it mildly, and I am not that sort of man."

Edited 2011-11-08 00:51 (UTC)

Lex as a rule doesn't trust anybody. However, Aimery has told him of this ability, and that it could be used for less than honest purposes the night they had met in person. It's a choice in honesty that goes a long way.

"I know you're not," Lex says in response to 'that sort of man.' "Though I hope your discontent at not being able to do more doesn't mean that you're leaving us."

After the very interesting discussion with Lex and Aimery in the living room, Adrian decides to cut short his workout and asks Aimery to join him in his penthouse. He pulls on a short purple robe (mostly out of respect for Aimery's modesty) and directs the man to follow him into his bedroom to the closet.

"You understand that I'm expecting absolute secrecy from you. Mr. Luthor is the only other person who knows about this. If you can't promise complete discretion, that you can be completely trustworthy, then you had better tell me now."

Aimery was equal parts nervous and curious when Adrian invited him upstairs, feelings that were amplified further and added to wariness when he was led into his bedroom. There was a small part of his brain telling him he ought to be ready to be offended or angry: an extra chore, in his bedroom, that he would need to keep secret from everyone but Lex.

"Of course. You've my word, Mr. Veidt, that it won't leave this room," he answered, schooling his expression to neutral concern as best he could.

The way this entire could potentially look to someone who doesn't know what Adrian is about to reveal doesn't even register with him, so he although he notices the carefully neutral expression he doesn't bother to delve deeper into why Aimery might feel the need to take care with his expression. (Although to be honest, Adrian probably wouldn't alter his approach in any way even if he was aware of every thought in Aimery's head.)

"I don't know that you need to limit yourself quite that much," he replies with a mild smile, as he steps into the back of the closet and depresses a hidden switch in the wall. The panel slides away and as it does, a light comes on in the room beyond, revealing a familiar set of body armor arranged on a stand, purple cloak falling from the shoulders. "And now you know my secret."

As soon as the light came on, Aimery's eyebrows went up and his face went slack in shock. That was Ozymandias's costume. In Adrian's closet. He opened his mouth, closed it, put his hand on his chest, and opened his mouth again, looking back and forth between his boss and the armor.

Not only was Adrian Ozymandias, but he'd saved Aimery's life. And encouraged Aimery to dress as him, let him to ramble on excitedly about how great he thought Ozymandias was. What a... was it rude? Smug? Proud? He had no idea.

But frankly, if Aimery were a masked vigilante, he would've done exactly the same thing.

"Well," was all he could say at first. Then a moment later, when it had properly sunk in, he turned an amused smile to the other man, "I suppose that explains how you knew Ozymandias' name."

Edited 2011-11-06 04:40 (UTC)

It has to be admitted, Adrian enjoys Aimery's reaction. He stands silently off to the side, looking both smug and proud (although hopefully not rude), as the other man works through his thoughts.

Although Aimery's remark makes him press his lips together tightly for just a moment, before he shakes it off. The whole city should know the name Ozymandias by now, and the fact that it doesn't is a constant source of irritation. "Yes, unfortunately, we're both still rather anonymous. I assume you see now why I needed to be sure of your willingness to keep what you know to yourself."

Edited 2011-11-06 04:55 (UTC)

Adrian's brief pursing of lips was enough for Aimery to catch on as to why he'd given Aimery his name and why the 'unfortunately' was there. Ozymandias couldn't be everywhere at once and a guardian-spirit was only as good as his legend, but being known as the source of the legend was dangerous.

"I should hope after Mr. Luthor's birthday party and my costume you're both much less anonymous," he offered encouragingly, "And I do understand. Your name shall stay far away from Ozymandias's as far as I'm concerned."

He glanced at the suit, then at Adrian, then back at the suit, before gesturing towards it and asking in a decidedly fanboyish manner, "May I touch it?"

Edited 2011-11-06 06:26 (UTC)

One of these days, when it's useful to him, Adrian will go public with his secret. But a revelation like that is worthless if there's nothing to gain from it. So for now, he's back to the double life he used to lead. It's not an entirely unwelcome arrangement.

"I should hope so," he agrees, appreciative of Aimery's unwitting assistance in that.

His smile grows at the request, chasing away most of the annoyance from a moment ago, and Adrian nods, gesturing toward it with one hand. "Go right ahead. In fact I'd like you to become familiar with it, because I'm going to ask you the favor of assisting me with the care of it."

"Favor?" he asked as he moved towards the costume, "It'd be an honor. It will shine like the day it was made every time you don it."

Aimery shot Adrian a warm smile before looking back at the suit and reaching out to trail one finger along the collar, hesitantly, as if he couldn't quite believe it were there. The suit was far more beautiful in the light than it had been back in that alley, and the mystery of whether or not it was anatomically correct was solved thanks to Veidt's choice in workout attire. Aimery ran his hand down one arm more purposefully, catching any grime, blood, or whatever that was not part of the suit with the side of his hand, then glanced up at the other man.

"That night you saved me was the only time my ability hasn't worked- I owe you my life." He hoped the look he gave, earnest and appreciative, made his gratefulness and loyalty clear enough. Because actually saying 'thank you, I'm very grateful, if there's anything I can do to repay it' while stroking your hands over an effigy of the person you're speaking to might be a little tacky.

That's exactly the kind of answer Adrian enjoys hearing, and his smile deepens into an expression of almost indulgence. "I'll show you how it goes together. I suspect your abilities are going to be very useful."

He notices how Aimery touches the suit reverently, clears away some lingering grime with ease, and decides he has definitely made the right call in bringing the man into his confidence. For the first time since finding himself in this strange city, Adrian feels fully confident that he can successfully map out a new destiny for himself. "You don't owe me anything, Aimery. It's a duty I chose for myself years ago, and if gratitude was the only reward then I would have given it up far sooner than I did."

As Veidt spoke, Aimery tugged one of the dustrag from his jacket pocket where he'd tucked it earlier and gave the arm of the suit a more thorough going over; there wasn't that much on it and he hadn't been directed to clean it yet, but it was literally impossible to do it as well as he could and he might as well, seeing as he was standing there.

"Why did you chose it?" Aimery asked, glancing up as he moved on to cleaning the gorget and shoulder, "Have you a power like mine? You seemed so strong and fast then, it can't all be muscle and diet, can it?"

Adrian watches as Aimery takes it upon himself to really put a polish on the costume, and congratulates himself on his excellent decision. It's going to be nice to have someone around to hand off the bothersome cleanup work to.

"I discovered that I had a destiny." A very slightly absent look creeps into Adrian's eyes, as he pictures the spirit quest that set him on the path he walks now. "I'd always wanted to do something great for the world, to live up the potential I knew I was wasting, and I discovered that being a masked hero was the answer." He makes a soft sound almost like a chuckle. "No, I have no special powers. Although at home they do call me the smartest man in the world."

There was a brief pause in his work at the mention of wasted potential, caused by his own concern that he was wasting his. Except Aimery's drive to do something for 'the world' had exceeded his capabilities and what little he'd accomplished had been taken away from him. He had far more power now, without the courage or direction to do something with it.

Adrian's calling himself the smartest man in the world, however, jogged more pleasant memories, and he chuckled in return. "Actually, I've a friend who said he was the smartest man in his world, too, and dressed in costume, but that's where the similarities end. Eddie described himself as a," Aimery stood and held up his palms, more in a jazz-hands style than air-quotes but with the same intent, "reformed theatrical villain- I think he was mostly seeking attention."

He shrugged and looked back at the costume a moment, "Even if he'd noble goals like yours, I doubt he'd be half the hero Ozymandias is."

Is or could be, Aimery wasn't sure, but Eddie in that costume was a hilarious thought regardless.

workout in the mornin' workout in the evenin'

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I'M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG

I WAITED FOR YOU KIM

ME TOO

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probably safe to assume that someone has told Adrian where Aims's from re: England and BN, y?

I defer that to Kim, but I think so?

sounds good to me :)

Re: sounds good to me :)

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Aimery & Adrian: a secret revealed

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HA HA CAUGHT MYSELF DOING IT THIS TIME

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